The Town FilesWest Milford, New Jersey
Township in Passaic County · population 24,862 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $399,700
- Household income
- $132,114
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 46.7
West Milford is a township of 24,862 people in Passaic County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $399,700, below the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks quieter than 84% of New Jersey towns, better for first-time buyers than 84% of New Jersey towns, better for families than 75% of New Jersey towns.
How West Milford ranks
Percentile among New Jersey towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Jersey towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in West Milford is worth $399,700, below the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $132,114, which is more affordable than 81% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $1,737 a month. 88.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | West Milford | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $399,700 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $1,737 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $132,114 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 88.7% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.8% | — |
Who lives in West Milford
| People | West Milford | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.7 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.4% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.2% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.0% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 5.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 11.4% | — |
| Work from home | 17.1% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 39.8 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.2% | 94.6% |
Weather in West Milford
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows 18.7°F. About 52.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.1 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 138 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Milford since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. The strongest, an F1, struck on September 11, 1997 about 1.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 11, 1997.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 3, 2014.
Severe weather in Passaic County since 1996
Passaic County has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 5, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4614: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| September 2, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3573: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4488: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3451: Covid-19 |
| June 8, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4368: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Passaic County
Passaic County had 170,830 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $63,668 a year. Unemployment was 5.5% in 2023; in West Milford itself the ACS puts it at 6.1%.
Public schools in West Milford
5 public schools with 2,495 students, about 12.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Milford High School | 9-12 | 937 | 11.9 |
| Macopin Middle School | 6-8 | 683 | 11.6 |
| Maple Road Elementary School | PK-5 | 320 | 12.8 |
| Marshall Hill Elementary School | PK-5 | 305 | 13.9 |
| Apshawa Elementary School | K-5 | 250 | 12.5 |
Towns near West Milford
- Upper Greenwood Lake, NJ5.6 mi · 3,687 people · home $376,700
- Bloomingdale, NJ5.6 mi · 7,777 people · home $432,000
- Highland Lakes, NJ5.9 mi · 4,816 people · home $295,300
- Ringwood, NJ6.2 mi · 11,735 people · home $449,800
- Wanaque, NJ6.9 mi · 11,317 people · home $400,700
- Oak Ridge, NJ7.6 mi · 10,996 people · home $436,100
- Butler, NJ7.8 mi · 8,047 people · home $442,500
- Vernon, NJ8.0 mi · 22,358 people · home $331,000
West Milford questions
Is West Milford, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, West Milford scores better for retirees than 65% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 84%. 20.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.7).
How much does a house cost in West Milford?
The median owner-occupied home in West Milford is valued at $399,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $132,114, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $1,737 a month.
What is the weather like in West Milford?
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows 18.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.2 inches of precipitation a year and 28.1 inches of snow.
Does West Milford get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Milford since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on September 11, 1997. The typical New Jersey town has had 9.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)